Signal means for taximeters



March 27, 1934. MACKM 1,952,722

SIGNAL MEANS FOR TAXIEdETERS Original Filed July 29 1929 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 135L722 SIGNAL MEANS FQE TAXIMETERS;

Jerome li iackin, New York, N Y.

Application July 29, 1929, Serial No. 381,766 Renewed August 16, 19355 2 Claims. (Cl. flit-l6) This invention relates to new and useful irn- The reference numeral 10 indicates generally movements in illuminating signal means for taxa taxicab provided with a taximeter 11 having imeters. a flag 12 arranged for being turned downwards The invention has for an object the provision as shown Fig. 1, when the cab is occupied, and Q of a device of the class mentioned which is of turn d upwards when unoccupied. A pair of 6 simple durable construction, desirable in use and indicati lamps l3, 14: are shown mounted upon efficient in action, and which can be manufacthe root of the taxi and are arranged for inditured and sold at a reasonable cost. eating whether the cab is occupied or not as here- The invention proposes illuminating signal inaiter described. These lights maybe arranged 1,9 means for indicating whether a taxicab is occuin a suitable covering or housing. The light 13 pied or unoccupied for advising prospective pas preferably should be green and arranged to light sengers. Quite often when a person is nearly dithe cab is occupied and the light 14 yellow rectly in front o a taxicab or in the m it is and arranged to light when the cab is unoccupied. difficult to see whether the cab is occupied or A switch casing 15 is attached upon the top of 15 the taximeter 11. The flag 12 is provided with a The invention further proposes a casing athandle portion 16 connected with the flag shaft tached on a taxiineter and having a plunger de- 1.1 A plunger 18 is slidably mounted within the pressible y he handl of he m t r fla wh n casing 15 and is arranged parallel with the shaft the meter flag is in a raised position, a key hold- 1'? and directly over it. The front end of the ing the plunger against rotation and arranged plunger rod extends from the front of the casing for a slight amount of further depressi n relaand is provided with a head 19. tive to its depressed position, as detern ned by The plunger rod 18 is provided with a periphthe handle of the flag, to disengage the and eral recess 2-0 intermediate of its ends which is permit rotation to another position, and in the engaged by an insulation ring 21. An expansion 25 first position upon depression contacts close a spring 22 is coaxially mounted on the plunger circuit thru one colored light indicating that the rod and acts between the casing and the insulataxi carries no passengers, and upon extension tion ring for normally urging the plunger outcontacts close another circuit thru a diiielent wards. A collar 23 projects from the plunger colored light indicating that the taxi carries a rod and limits its outward position. passenger, and in the second position inoperative A contact clamp 24 is mounted upon the inin both depressed and extended positions. sulation ring 21 and electrically connects with For further comprehension of the invention, an insulated loose wire 25. This wire electrically and of the objects and advantages thereof, reiconnects with a cable 26 extending from the caserence will be had to the following description ing and connected with one of the terminals of 35 and accompanying drawing, and to the appended a battery 27. A front stationary contact 28 is claims in which the various novel features of the mounted within the casing and is engageable by invention are more particulrly set forth. the contact clamp 24 in the extended position In the accompanying drawing forming a mateof the plunger 18. A rear stationary contact 29 rial part of this disclosure: is mounted within the casing and is engageable 49 Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective View of a by the contact clamp 2a in the depressed positaxicab equipped with the signal means. tion of the plunger arm. A cable 30 electrically Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional w connects with the contact 28 and with the green of the taximeter and the signal contro lamp 13 and in series with the battery 27. An-

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on other cable 32 electrically connects with the con- 45 the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and provided with schetact 29 and with the yellow lamp 14 and is in matic wiring. series with the battery 2'7 and in parallel with Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the cable 30.

the device with the meter flag lowered. The flag handle 16 is provided with an arcuate Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lateral arm 33 arranged to engage against the 5 line 55 of Fig. 4. head 19 when the flag is moved from its down to Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary secits up position. In Fig. 3 the handle 16 of the tional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l. flag is shown against the head 19 so that the Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken plunger is in its retracted position. A key 34 on the line '77 of Fig. 3. projects from the front portion of the plunger Fig. 8 shows a modified form of plunger. 18 and engages in a keyway 35 formed in the front face of the casing for limiting the plunger against rotation. The plunger may be manually slightly further depressed from the position as seen in Fig. 3 so that the key 34 disengages from the keyway 35, then the plunger may be rotated and released for permitting the key as to engage in a second keyway 36 formed in the front face of the casing 15.

In operation of the device, the key 34 is engaged in the keyway 35. In the down position of the flag, its handle 16 does not act against the head of the plunger so that the spring 22 may force the plunger to its out position. In this position the contact clamp 24 engages against the stationary contact 28 and closes the circuit thru the green lamp 13 indicating that the cab is occupied. After the passenger leaves the cab, the driver turns the flag to a vertical position and the handle 16 then depresses the head 19 so that the contact clamp 24 engages the contact 29 and closes the circuit thru the yellow lamp 14 which indicates the vacant position of the cab. The driver may disconnect the lamps from operation whenever this is found desirable by manually forcing the head 19 completely inwards and turning the plunger 18 so that the key 34 engages the keyway 36. In this condition of the plunger the contact clamp 24 cannot reach and engage the contacts 28 and 29.

In Fig. 8 plunger 18 is shown to be extendible in order to make it adaptable to different types of taximeters. When head 19 is set to the right position, the telescopic portion of plunger 18 is locked by set screw 18".

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it'is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch of the class described, a switch casing, one face of said casing having a circular hole therein with two grooves in the periphery of said hole, a plunger rod slidably mounted through said hole and rotatable therein, a contact piece fixed to said rod and extending in a plane parallel with the axis of said rod, a fiat contact piece fixed within said casing adjacent the face through which the rod passes, a second flat contact piece fixed within said casing remote from the rod supporting face, the contact surfaces of said flat contact pieces both being in the same plane and parallel with the axis of said rod, resilient means normally urging said rod to its extended position, a key fixed to said rod and extending longitudinally thereof engageabl in one of said grooves and maintaining the rod-held contact piece in a plane of reciprocation the same as the plane of the fixed contact pieces, said key being positioned a sufficient distance away from the outer end of the rod to allow disengagement from the said groove when the rod is fully depressed, uhereby the rod may be rotated to a position to positively hold the rod-held contact piece in a plane of reciprocation out of the plane of the fixed contact pieces by engaging the key in second groove.

2. In a switch of the class described, a switch casing, a plunger rod slidably and turnably mounted in said casing, means in said casing to guide said rod in its reciprocatory movement in either of two angular positions, a contact member mounted on said rod, a pair of contacts mounted in said casing at spaced positions in the path of movement of the contact member in one of the angular positions of said rod, said contacts lying out of the path of movement of the contact member in the other angular position of the rod, said rod guiding means terminating short of the end of the reciprocatory movement of the rod, 

